Chapter 576: Chapter 576: Unfilial Son!

In the Imperial Study Room, Qi Yun was drinking medicine. Recently, his headache had returned. Shen Chong had taken his pulse and said it was due to mental strain and prescribed some calming medicine.

The medicine was mostly tonic and tasted not too bad, at least not very bitter, so Qi Yun drank it comfortably enough.

“Your Majesty, news came from the Heavenly Prison earlier saying the deposed Crown Prince wishes to see you!”

Qi Yun put down the medicine bowl and sneered, “Right now the court’s affairs are many and urgent; how could I have the mind to care for him? Let him stay in there!”

He was an Emperor, the Son of Heaven, and in the imperial family, familial affection was always scarce. In history, countless crown princes who didn’t rebel against their fathers were deposed, let alone Qi Junji, this confirmed rebellious Crown Prince.

Qi Yun spared his life, only imprisoning him in the Heavenly Prison, which was very generous. What more could he want?

Qi Yun felt he was truly exhausting himself, and sure enough, his head started to ache again.

“Old dog!”

“Your Majesty?”

“Do you think that now I’ve reached fifty-five, I’m truly getting old? Handling many things seems beyond me. Just a little worry, and I get a headache? Should I abdicate?”

At these words, Chen Zhong was so shocked that his legs weakened and he knelt on the ground.

“Your Majesty, please mind your words, you flourish with eternal prosperity; the realm still needs your guidance, how could you say such dispiriting words? Saying so, this old servant must die to atone!”

As Chen Zhong spoke, he banged his head on the ground.

“Enough, enough, I was just thinking aloud!”

Qi Yun waved his hand. In truth, who doesn’t covet power as a ruler? Unless utterly disheartened, but Qi Yun having encountered his son’s betrayal would not affect his mindset.

It was simply that recently, there had been too many disasters, which caused such feelings.

At this moment, Eunuch Xiao Chen, Chen Yan, came in and bowed, “Your Majesty, the Empress has arrived.”

Of course, this Empress referred to Consort Li.

“What is her business?” Qi Yun rubbed his temple; the matters in Kaiyang County had only slightly improved, and palace affairs were truly something he didn’t want to deal with.

But since Consort Li had come, he couldn’t not see her, so he waved his hand.

“Greetings to Your Majesty, may Your Majesty endlessly prosper!”

“Hmm, Consort Li, do you have any matters?”

Qi Yun released the hand pressed against his forehead and turned to look at her.

Today, Consort Li had dressed quite meticulously. With her relatively youthful appearance, similar to when she first entered the palace, she appeared even more radiant.

However, Qi Yun only cast her a glance before dismissing it from his mind.

Consort Li smiled slightly and gracefully stepped forward, “Your Majesty, this concubine has just received news that the Crown Prince in prison seems genuinely remorseful and wishes…”

“Hmph, does he wish to plead for release?” Qi Yun, annoyed by the matter, spoke coldly, “Committing such an inexcusably grave mistake, and he thinks mere remorse would suffice? What about the laws of the state?”

As he spoke, Qi Yun slapped the memorial on the side, “Do not mention this matter again!”

Consort Li had come to test Qi Yun and seeing his impatient demeanor, she felt assured. As long as the Crown Prince doesn’t return, her son would have great potential to become the new Crown Prince!

Next, she needed to consider how to win over ministers and create momentum for her son’s position as Crown Prince.

Meanwhile, on the other side, in the Heavenly Prison.

The place was pitch black, dark, and cramped, with a pungent musty smell lingering in the corridor that made it uncomfortable to breathe.

Here, most of the detainees were major criminals of the court, mostly those guilty of heinous crimes.

The deposed Crown Prince Qi Junji was not confined here but in a nearby cell in the Heavenly Pavilion, designated for members of the imperial family.

The conditions here were somewhat better than outside at least the smell wasn’t as strong, and the ground was relatively dry. On a bed made of soft straw, a gaunt figure sat despondently.

His eyes had lost their luster, with sunken sockets and weak breath, looking unkempt and skeletal, as if on the brink of death.

This had been his state for a long time since he was imprisoned. Initially, he was bewildered, not knowing what to do, but as time passed, he began to give up.

He still wanted to live; he was only in his thirties, he didn’t want to die like this.

Moreover, he still had a Princess Consort and several sons; how could he die like this?

So he desperately begged, telling the prison guards he wanted to see the Emperor.

However, no matter how much he begged, confessed, or reflected, the Emperor had no intention of seeing him.

His voice broke from shouting, yet no one paid attention.

He fell into despair, giving himself up to ruin.

“Halt, you cannot enter!”

“How impudent, I am the nanny by the Empress’s side, here to visit the Crown Prince, and you won’t let me in?”

“Sorry, without an order from His Majesty the Emperor, the deposed Crown Prince cannot see anyone!”

Suddenly there was a flurry of voices outside, a conversation between an old palace maid and a prison guard, with the guard emphasizing the words “deposed Crown Prince.”

Inside the cell, Qi Junji’s pupils slightly contracted at hearing this, but soon lost focus again.

“Heh, you as the Prison Chief really know how to follow the wind, don’t you? Indeed, now the Empress is out of favor, and the Crown Prince is deposed, but who knows what tomorrow holds? The Empress only wants to bring some food to the Crown Prince, not to let him suffer in the cell, and you won’t even allow this?”

As the old nanny spoke, her hand shook, and a golden leaf fell out.

The prison guard saw it, his eyes brightened, and immediately said, “But of course, the nanny speaks reason, the tides change every thirty years, who can say? Please, please!”

The old nanny snorted lightly and walked in, followed by a palace maid carrying a basket.

“Open the door!”

“Clang!”

The iron bars slowly opened, and the old nanny and the maid entered. Several guards received a signal from the Prison Chief to withdraw.

“Empress!”

Once the guards had retreated, the once arrogant old nanny respectfully stepped aside and gave a slight curtsey, allowing the palace maid to step forward.

The palace maid lifted her hood, revealing an elegant, regal face.

It was Empress Qiao!

She entered, set the food box on the table, and upon seeing the man curled in the corner, frowned slightly, “How did you end up like this?”

Empress Qiao’s face darkened, somewhat dissatisfied as she looked at this son.

Even if the position of Crown Prince was lost, he shouldn’t have abandoned himself like this!

Instantly, disgust flashed in her eyes. If it weren’t for another use she had for him, she wouldn’t have bothered to come.

“Heh… lost, everything’s lost. Still, mother is the most capable, the smartest indeed; your senses keenly sniff out danger early, wisely withdrawing to save yourself. Capable, capable, I admire… slap!”

Qi Junji laughed coldly, his words filled with sarcasm, resulting in Empress Qiao suddenly stepping forward and slapping him across the face.

“Insolent! Who gave you the right to speak to this Empress in such a manner? You lost because you were foolish, thinking everything was flawless, but it was all under his control, and you almost dragged this Empress down with you!

Disgraceful son! This Empress came today to find a way out for you, yet instead of feeling grateful, you dare to mock this Empress? Hmph!”

Empress Qiao rebuked harshly.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep